Kell's 2011 Reading Log

[Weave]

Paula - I think you'll really enjoy it! I'm loving it - it's warm and comforting, but strangely eerie and slightly claustrophobic too...

 

Thanks Kell

[Kell]

BOOKING THROUGH THURSDAY

 

What’s the latest you’ve ever stayed up reading a book? Is staying up late reading a usual thing for you?

 

I don’t get much reading time these days, so most of my reading gets done in bed. The last couple of days I’ve been so engrossed in reading Ferney by James Long, that I’ve read till after 1.30am.

 

However, in my daft youth, if I had nothing on the next day, it wasn’t unusual for me to continue reading till it was light!

[Kell]

Library acquisitions this morning:

 

Julia Golding – Cat O’ Nine Tails (Cat Royal 4)

Philip Pullman – The Tin Princess (Sally Lockhart 4)

F E Higgins – The Black Book of Secrets (Sinister City 1)

Kevin Crossley-Holland – The Seeing Stone (Arthur Trilogy 1)

[Kell]

July Book Round-Up

Another month, another batch of books finished. Not so many this month, but still a few more under the belt, and another 5/5 book in there too!

 

RATINGS:

1/5 Dire – don’t waste your time

2/5 OK, but nothing to write home about

3/5 Very good – worth a read

4/5 Excellent

5/5 Superb – read it immediately!

 

 

BOOKS FINISHED:

42. Maria V Snyder – Magic Study (Study 2) - 3/5

A little slower and not quite as exciting as the first book in the trilogy, but still pretty good. This continues Yelena’s story as she returns to her family and begins studying to bring her magical abilities under control. It’s filled with intrigue and adventure, and was certainly interesting enough to warrant me completing the trilogy, so expect to hear from me about the last installment some time soon!

 

43. Barbara Ewing – The Mesmerist - 3/5

I picked this one up for £1 (I’m a sucker for a bargain!) and loved the cover, so it found its way into the shopping trolley. Well, can you blame me? I figured it would bridge the gap till I could get to the library again and get the next in the several series I’m currently reading. It started quite slowly then picked up a little and held my interest to the very end.

 

44. Julia Golding – Den of Thieves (Cat Royal 3) - 3/5

This series just keeps getting better and better! In the earlier books, we’ve touched on political activism, freedom of speech and slavery; this time it’s the French Revolution! Cat Royal is really growing and improving over the course of the series and I have high hopes for the rest of them!

 

45. Philip Pullman – The Tiger in the Well (Sally Lockhart 3) - 3/5

This third installment and it is the best so far, but also the most harrowing to read – Harriet (Sally’s daughter) is of a similar age to my son, and someone is trying to take her away from her mother, so it’s a terrifying thought for a mother reading this book! I actually had nightmares because of it. However, it did not deter me from continuing with the novel. It also focuses on subjects of socialism, equality of the sexes (or lack thereof) and persecution of minorities and immigrants, so it’s got some very serious issues thrown in there, making this a very interesting read!

 

46. Cody Young – American Smile - 4/5

Full review HERE.

 

47. Douglas Carlton Abrams – The Lost Diary of Don Juan - 3/5

This was another £1 bargain from the pound shop – double the bargain because it’s a hardback book! I picked it up simply because I thought the cover looked elegant and I’m pleased to report that the writing reflects that elegance. It has a little titillation, but nothing graphic or sordid, and it’s rather a joy to read.

 

48. James Long – Ferney - 5/5

The £1 bargains are turning out to be wonderful lately! This one really intrigued me. The writing is compelling and the characters warm. It’s also rather eerie as the relationship between Gally and Ferney grows. Utterly spellbinding from start to finish, this is one of those novels that grabs hold of you and just won’t ever let you go. Throughout reading Ferney, I kept experiencing the strongest sense of deja vu, so much so that I almost became convinced I had read it before, although I know for certain I hadn’t. It really is a stunning book and since I finished it I’ve kept thinking and thinking about it!

 

BOOKS STARTED (carrying over to August):

F E Higgins – The Black Book of Secrets (Sinister City 1)

Another young adult series I’ve started. So far, so good!

[Kell]

I’m part of the Transworld Book Group!

 

Running from August to October Transworld are letting bloggers pick four titles from the list below to be sent for review. Review the book on your blog or on Amazon and send them the link, then they’ll send you out the second book on your list. It’s as easy at that!

 

 

So, I applied to be part of the Transworld Book Group and very quickly got confirmation that I’d been accepted. Not only that, but this morning, I received the first of my four books! You can colour me excited!

 

The four books I’ve chosen are:

 

1. Caligula by Douglas Jackson

2. Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll

3. Crippen by John Boyne

4. The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy

 

I’ll be starting Caligula as soon as I’ve finished my current book, so probably tomorrow. The review will follow soon after. I think I’m going to enjoy this!

 

[Kell]

TEASER TUESDAYS

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

 

My teaser:

He picked up a piece of dung that lay at his feet and held it up to Rufus’s face,

 

“See? It’s all about profit. It doesn’t matter whether it stinks like sh*t or smells of perfume – if it makes a profit it smells sweet.”

 

- page 26, Caligula by Douglas Jackson

 

Synopsis:

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the third Roman Emperor, is better known by another name: Caligula, a name synonymous with decadence, cruelty and madness. His reign was marked by excess, huge building projects, the largest gladiatorial battles Rome was ever to see – men and animals killed in their hundreds – conspiracies, assassination attempts and sexual scandal.

 

Rufus as a young slave grows up far from the corruption of the imperial court. His master is a trainer of animals for the gladiatorial arena. Rufus discovers that he has a natural ability with animals, a talent for controlling and schooling them. It is at the arenas that Rufus meets his great friend Cupido, one of Rome’s greatest gladiators.

 

It is his growing reputation as an animal trainer and his friendship with Cupido that attracts the cruel gaze of the Emperor. Caligula wants a keeper for the imperial elephant and Rufus is bought from his master and taken to the imperial palace. Life here is dictated by Caligula’s ever shifting moods. Caligula is as generous as he is cruel, he is a megalomaniac who declares himself a living god and simultaneously lives in constant fear of the plots against his life. But his paranoia is not misplaced, intrigue permeates his court, and Rufus and Cupido find themselves unwittingly placed at the centre of a conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor.

 

What I think of it so far:

This is my first of four choices as part of the Transworld Book Group.

 

I picked it up last night and started reading, Before I knew it, I’d read eight chapters. I adore historical novels, especially those set in ancient Rome, so this one is right up my street. It gripped me from the very start and I only put it down last night because I was so tired I almost dropped the book!

 

[Kell]

BOOKING THROUGH THURSDAY

 

Anticipation

What’s the last book you were really EXCITED to read? And, were you excited about it in advance? Or did the excitement bloom while you were reading it? Are there any books you’re excited about right NOW?

 

I collect certain authors and always get excited about new releases by them. The ones I’m anxiously awaiting right now are:

 

• 
   
  
• Kelley Armstrong – Spellbound (WotOW 12) – out now!
  
• Kelley Armstrong – Becoming (WotOW graphic novel) – Aug 2011
  
• Kelley Armstrong – Hidden (WotOW novella) – Dec 2011
  
• Kelley Armstrong – The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1) – out now!
  
• Kelley Armstrong – The Calling (Darkness Rising 2) – Apr 2012
  
• Brian M Bendis – Richard Castle’s Deadly Storm (graphic novel) – Sep 2011
  
• Christopher Brookmyre – When the Devil Drives – Jun 2012
  
• Richard Castle – Heat Rises (Nikki Heat 3) – Sep 2011
  
• Philippa Gregory – The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins’ War 3) – Sep 2011
  
• Stuart MacBride – Birthdays for the Dead – Jan 2012
  
• Terry Pratchett – Snuff (Discworld 39) – Oct 2011
  
• Simon Scarrow – Praetorian (Romans 11) – Nov 2011
  
• Simon Scarrow – Fight for Freedom (Gladiator YA 1) – out now!
  
• Simon Scarrow – Street Fighter (Gladiator YA 2) – Feb 2012
  

 

Some of them are already out, but it’s my birthday next month and I hope to get some books and / or vouchers…

 

The last book I was really excited about reading in advance was The Legion by Simon Scarrow (Romans 10), as I love Scarrow’s Romans series and it was the most recent one I hadn’t read. I was practically salivating at the prospect. It lived up to expectations.

 

Two books that grabbed me as I read them were Ferney by James Long and Room by Emma Donoghue. Both were novels I was a little apprehensive of starting, but it quickly became obvious that they were exceptional – real 5/5 reads!

 

National Book Week

It’s National Book Week. The rules: Grab the closest book to you. Go to page 56. Copy the 5th sentence as your status.

 

I will be just another punctured bag of guts and bones to be dragged from the arena and fed to your lions.

 

- Caligula by Douglas Jackson*

 

Quite a descriptive sentence there – taken, mid-speech, from a character called Cupido, a publically acclaimed gladiator, lamenting the fate that he knows will one day await him, but taking it stoically.

 

* This is my first of four choices as part of the

Transworld Book Group.

[Kell]

 

Title: Caligula (Roman Trilogy 1)

Author: Douglas Jackson

ISBN: 978-0-552-15694-3

Publisher: Corgi

First Published: Feb 2009

No. of pages: 496

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Synopsis (back cover):

Rufus, a young slave, grows up far from the corruption of the imperial court. He is a trainer of animals for the gladiatorial arena. But when Caligula wants a keeper for the emperor’s elephant, Rufus is bought from his owner and taken to the palace.

 

Life at court is dictated by Caligula’s ever shifting moods. He is as generous as he is cruel – a megalomaniac who declares himself a living god and simultaneously lives in constant fear of plots against his life. His paranoia is not misplaced however; intrigue permeates his court, and Rufus will find himself unwittingly at the centre of a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor.

 

Review:

Fans of intrigue, action and historical drama will all be thrilled by the first novel in the Romans trilogy by Douglas Jackson. From the first sentence, the reader is totally immersed in the unfolding drama – once can almost taste the paranoia dripping from each page as it is turned.

 

Caligula’s sadistic tendencies, even as a child, are quickly revealed, but so is the constant fear with which he lives and I, very surprisingly, found that on occasion, I actually felt some sympathy for him – I wasn’t prepared for that and it was a refreshing change. Rufus, and his friendship with Cupido, were written with such devotion that one could almost believe the author was writing about close friends of his own, such was the realism of both their characters and their relationship. As for Bersheba, the emperor’s elephant, she has such character that it’s no stretch of the imagination to feel her presence and hear her huffing breath as one reads – she’s right there beside you.

 

There’s excitement by the barrel load and the roar of the crowds in the arena is almost palpable, along with the stench of the animals and the stink of sweat and blood. It’s a vividly recreated world that one feels could almost be touched. It’s not just a story, it’s an experience.

 

I highly recommend this novel and am champing at the bit to read the rest of the trilogy.

[Kell]

TEASER TUESDAYS

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

My teaser:

Allie knew by his silence that he was thinking about her and found that she reveled in it. She didn’t know what his thoughts were exactly, didn’t care really, just knew they were about her and that was enough.

 

- page 66, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

 

Synopsis:

A man with a faded, well-worn notebook open in his lap. A woman experiencing a morning ritual she doesn’t understand. Until he begins to read to her.

 

Set amid the austere beauty of the North Carolina coast, The Notebook begins with the story of Noah Calhoun, a rural Southerner recently returned from the Second World War. Noah is restoring a plantation home to its former glory, and he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met fourteen years earlier, a girl he loved like no other. Unable to find her, yet unwilling to forget the summer they spent together, Noah is content to live with only memories…until she unexpectedly returns to his town to see him once again.

 

Like a puzzle within a puzzle, the story of Noah and Allie is just the beginning. As it unfolds, their tale miraculously becomes something different, with much higher stakes. The result is a deeply moving portrait of love itself, the tender moments and the fundamental changes that affect us all. It is a story of miracles and emotions that will stay with you forever.

 

What I think of it so far:

This is not the kind of book I normally read. Although it’s written by a man, it’s a bit “chick-lit” and romantic for my usual tastes, but this is utterly compelling. As the story slowly unfolds, I’m finding myself falling in love with Noah and Allie. I’m only half way through but I desperately want things to work out for them, however I get the sinking feeling things won’t go smoothly… Either way, even if I’m out of my comfort zone, I’m enjoying it.

[Nollaig]

That's quite a surprise, Kell. As soon as I saw the title I thought, 'wait, this IS Kell's thread, right?' Nicholas Sparks is one of those authors I avoid like the plague because all I ever hear about the movie adaptation of this is... well... my female friends blubbering; and I generally HATE chick lit. But if you're enjoying it, maybe it's worth a go.... it's certainly piqued my interest anyway!

[Kell]

Noll, I prmise I haven't cried yet, but I can't promise I won't at some point. However, being a non-chick-litter/non-romance-reader, I am very surprised at how much I'm enjoying it. I've avoided Sparks despite osme of my other pals raving about him, as I don't tend to share their tastes, but this is rather refreshing. I can't say I'll definitely pick up anything else by this author, but I won't rule it out either.

 

I was actually given this one several years ago and needed a paperback for my bag that wasn't too long (as I'm expecting my second Transworld Book Group choice any day now), so I thought I'd give this one a go. I'm not regretting it!

 

PS I love that I managed to surprise you!

[Kell]

W... W... W... Wednesdays

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

 

 

What are you currently reading?

Alex Scarrow – Day of the Predator (TimeRiders 2)

I read the first book in this series back in June and so far this one is just as good.

 

Simon Scarrow – Young Bloods (Revolution 1)

I’ve read all the Romans series to date and thought it was about time I gave the Revolutions quadrilogy a try, since I’ve had the first three books on my shelf waiting to be read since they were first published!

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Douglas Jackson – Caligula - 4/5

Transworld Book Group – see full review HERE.

 

Nicholas Sparks – The Notebook - 4/5

This is not the kind of book I normally read. Although it’s written by a man, it’s a bit “chick-lit” and romantic for my usual tastes, but this is utterly compelling. As the story slowly unfolds, I’m finding myself falling in love with Noah and Allie, and I desperately wanted things to work out for them. It’s not often that a book makes me cry, but this one had me in tears, both of sadness and of joy. It’s a wonderful book and I recommend it even if it’s out of your comfort zone.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

 

1. 
    
   
2. Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll
   
3. Crippen by John Boyne
   
4. The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy
   

 

All three of these are my remaining choices from the Transworld Book Group, so whichever one arrives first will be the next I read.

 

Abandoned this week

Kevin Crossley-Holland – The Seeing Stone (Arthur Trilogy 1)

It’s 338 pages long, but has 100 chapters. By page 50, I had read 17 chapters and that was more than enough to know this wasn’t for me. To be honest, starting a new chapter every other page disrupted the flow – not that there was much flow anyway, as everything seemed to chop and change each time a new chapter began. As some chapters were literally less than a single page in length, I very quickly grew weary of it and dumped it. I won’t be returning to it or the rest of the series, despite being a huge fan of the Arthurian legends. A shame, because I was looking forward to it.

 

Transworld Book Group

[Kell]

BOOKING THROUGH THURSDAY

 

Fluff

You’ve just had a long, hard, exhausting day, and all you want to do is curl up with something light, fun, easy, fluffy, distracting, and entertaining. What book do you pick up?

 

I don’t have a “go to” book – I just pick up whatever I happen to be reading at that point in time. At the moment I’m reading two books by the Scarrow brothers – Young Bloods (Revolution 1) by Simon Scarrow, and Day of the Predator (TimeRiders 2) by Alex Scarrow. They’re both completely different – an historical fiction and a young adult sci-fi. The hardback (Young Bloods) is by my bed to read at night, the paperback (Day of the Predator) is in my bag for reading on the move.

[Kell]

TEASER TUESDAYS

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

 

My teaser:

Was it possible to be in the presence of this… creature, this luminous creature… and not know what he was? But then I had met him three times before and not suspected that he was anything other than an effective nurse and a decent human being.

- page 156, Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll

 

Synopsis:

New York jeweller Garet James has her fair share of problems: money, an elderly father, a struggling business. One day she comes across an antiques shop she’d never noticed before. The owner possesses an old silver box that’s been sealed shut. Would she help an old man and open it, perhaps? She does… and that night strange things begin to happen. It’s as if her world – our world – has shifted slightly, revealing another, parallel place that co-exists without our knowledge: the world of the Fey…

 

Garet learns that one of her ancestors was ‘the Watchtower’: an immortal chosen to stand guard over the human and the fey worlds – a role that she has, it seems, inherited from her mother. But the equilibrium between these two existences is under threat. The 16th-century magician and necromancer Dr John Dee has returned, the box has been opened and the demons of Despair and Discord released. In a race against time and impending apocalypse, it is Garet who must find Dee… and close the box.

 

What I think of it so far:

This is my second of four choices from the Transworld Book Group. It’s an intriguing urban fantasy with a mystery built in. The characters are engaging and the story is gripping. I an enjoying this one a great deal – not quite as much as I enjoyed Caligula, but I’m not even half way in yet, so there’s every chance that could change fast!

 

[Kell]

W... W... W... Wednesdays

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

 

 

What are you currently reading?

Simon Scarrow – Young Bloods (Revolution 1)

I’ve read all the Romans series to date and thought it was about time I gave the Revolutions quadrilogy a try, since I’ve had the first three books on my shelf waiting to be read since they were first published!

 

Lee Carroll – Black Swan Rising (Transworld Book Group)

See yesterday’s Teaser Tuesday for a brief taste of this excellent urban fantasy. I’m about half way through and loving it!

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Alex Scarrow – Day of the Predator (TimeRiders 2) - 3/5

Time travel, dinosaurs, and possibly unravelling the entire space-time continuum – what more could you possibly want from a young adult novel? Well, great characters (check!) and a gripping plot (check would also be good. Ding, ding, ding – we have a winner! This is a brilliant sequel which expands upon what we learned in the first novel and makes some intriguing revelations (one important one I had already guessed back in the first book, but I felt quietly proud that I’d worked it out and it didn’t spoil things for me).

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Steven A Roman – Blood Feud (Saga of Pandora Zwieback vol 1)

I’ve been sent this one for review and it looks pretty neat. A goth girl waging war against the undead makes for what looks like it could turn out to be an exciting young adult urban fantasy series.

 

Also:

1. 
    
   
2. Crippen by John Boyne
   
3. The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy
   

 

These are my remaining two choices from the Transworld Book Group, so as soon as my review for Black Swan Rising is posted, I’ll be sent one of these to read too…

 

[Kell]

TEASER TUESDAYS

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

 

My teaser:

She ran down the escalator and sprinted for the exit, wanting nothing more than to get as far away as possible from the mall and the monsters that infested it. Outside the doors was the real world. The safe world. The sane world.

 

- page 39, Blood Feud (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback 1) by Steven A. Roman

 

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Goth girl Pandora Zwieback has a major problem: she’s just discovered that her New York City hometown is the stalking ground for every monster and ghoul out to raise a little hell (literally!) . . . BUT she’s apparently the only one who can see them. That means she can’t tell her friends or family about the dangers around them–not unless she wants to spend the rest of her life locked up in a psychiatric ward. But before Pan has a chance to make sense of her increasingly weird life, she finds herself in the middle of a war among rival vampire clans. Elegant Gothic Lolitas from Japan on one side, silk-suited London vamps on the other, leather-clad hunters from Eastern Europe in the middle, and all after the same prize: a mysterious crate recently delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. What is the terrifying secret of Item #179? How do its contents tie into an incident from the blood-drenched past of Pan’s new friend, a 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter named Annie? And, more important, will Pan survive long enough to get any answers?

 

What I think of it so far:

I don’t know – I haven’t started it yet! I’ve been sent this one by the author for review and I’ll be starting it as soon as I’ve finished my current read, Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll (see last week’s Teaser Tuesday). I just opened it at a random page and picked a teaser – a pretty decent one, by the look of it, as it certainly grabs my interest. I hope it will grab yours too!

[Kell]

W... W... W... Wednesdays

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

 

 

What are you currently reading?

Simon Scarrow – Young Bloods (Revolution 1)

I’ve read all the Romans series to date and thought it was about time I gave the Revolutions quadrilogy a try, since I’ve had the first three books on my shelf waiting to be read since they were first published!

 

Lee Carroll – Black Swan Rising (Transworld Book Group)

Almost finished this one – review to follow some time in the next few days, for sure!

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Nothing – almost finished Black Swan Rising in time to include it in this section, but not quite!

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Reviewing for author:

* Steven A Roman – Blood Feud (Saga of Pandora Zwieback vol 1)

 

Transworld Book Group

* John Boyne – Crippen

* Michael Cordy – The Colour of Death

 

From the library:

* Julia Golding – Black Heart of Jamaica (Cat Royal 5)

* YS Lee – A Spy in the House (The Agency 1)

 

[Kell]

 

Title: Black Swan Rising (Black Swan Rising Book 1)

Author: Lee Carroll

ISBN: 978-0553825572

Publisher: Bantam

First Published: 2010

No. of pages:400

 

Rating: 3/5

 

Synopsis (Amazon):

New York jeweller Garet James has her fair share of problems: money, an elderly father, a struggling business. One day she comes across an antiques shop she’d never noticed before. The owner possesses an old silver box that’s been sealed shut. Would she help an old man and open it, perhaps? She does…and that night strange things begin to happen. It’s as if her world – our world – has shifted slightly, revealing another, parallel place that co-exists without our knowledge: the world of the Fey…

 

Garet learns that one of her ancestors was ‘the Watchtower’: an immortal chosen to stand guard over the human and the fey worlds – a role that she has, it seems, inherited from her mother. But the equilibrium between these two existences is under threat. The 16th-century magician and necromancer Dr John Dee has returned, the box has been opened and the demons of Despair and Discord released. In a race against time and impending apocalypse, it is Garet who must find Dee… and close the box.

 

Review:

I desperately wanted to like this more than I did. I love dark urban fantasies, especially where vampires are involved, but I found I wanted this to be darker and edgier than it was.

 

That’s not to say it’s not good – it is good. There’s a fascinating blend of fact and fiction, with real historical figures borrowed from their own times to lend credence to those from folklore and legend. And the characters are pretty solidly written too. I really liked Garet - she’s fallible and real – but there was something missing for me. She just didn’t come across as a take-the-reigns kind of girl and I wanted her to be more forceful.

 

Garet’s training also seemed to happen very quickly with not much happening as a result of it, which is a shame, because I felt it was a trick missed. Perhaps (and I can only hope I’m right) her newfound skills will come into play a bit more in the sequel.

 

Overall, Black Swan Rising is a nice bit of escapism and if you like urban fantasy, this could be just the ticket for you. There’s certainly enough to keep one entertained and maybe just enough to hook you for the second installment.

 

[Kell]

TEASER TUESDAYS

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

 

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Goth girl Pandora Zwieback has a major problem: she’s just discovered that her New York City hometown is the stalking ground for every monster and ghoul out to raise a little hell (literally!) . . . BUT she’s apparently the only one who can see them. That means she can’t tell her friends or family about the dangers around them–not unless she wants to spend the rest of her life locked up in a psychiatric ward. But before Pan has a chance to make sense of her increasingly weird life, she finds herself in the middle of a war among rival vampire clans. Elegant Gothic Lolitas from Japan on one side, silk-suited London vamps on the other, leather-clad hunters from Eastern Europe in the middle, and all after the same prize: a mysterious crate recently delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. What is the terrifying secret of Item #179? How do its contents tie into an incident from the blood-drenched past of Pan’s new friend, a 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter named Annie? And, more important, will Pan survive long enough to get any answers?

 

What I think of it so far:

I’m about half way through now and I am loving it! Just the right balance of reality and supernatural. And I love Pandora – she’s so quirky and, well, human! I can hardly wait to see how this one pans out. (Did you see what I did there? Pan? I’m so sorry, I just couldn’t resist the pan pun!)

[Kell]

W... W... W... Wednesdays

* What are you currently reading?

* What did you recently finish reading?

* What do you think you’ll read next?

 

 

What are you currently reading?

Simon Scarrow – Young Bloods (Revolution 1)

I’ve read all the Romans series to date and thought it was about time I gave the Revolutions quadrilogy a try, since I’ve had the first three books on my shelf waiting to be read since they were first published!

 

Steven A Roman – Blood Feud (Saga of Pandora Zwieback vol 1)

I was sent this one for review by the author. See yesterday’s Teaser Tuesday for a brief taste of this urban supernatural Goth-chic adventure.

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Lee Carroll – Black Swan Rising (Transworld Book Group)

See my full review HERE.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Transworld Book Group

• John Boyne – Crippen
  
• Michael Cordy – The Colour of Death
  

 

From the library:

• Julia Golding – Black Heart of Jamaica (Cat Royal 5)
  
• YS Lee – A Spy in the House (The Agency 1)
  

 

[ladymacbeth]

Blood Feud sounds good. Can I say I hate the cover art. The girls' hips are narrower than her shoulders - the proportions are just wrong. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but honestly I wouldn't buy the book for only that reason.

[Kell]

I kinda like the cover to Blood Feud - it was one of the things that clinched it for me (I read the synopsis then checked out the cover and thought to myself, "Yup, that'll do for me!").

[Hayley]

I have to agree with ladymacbeth, I thought she looked a little out of proportion too! And there's no WAY she looks 16!

 

On the other hand, it sounds really interesting... I wonder if they have it in a different binding?

 

(Also, liked your Pan pun Kell )

[Easy Reader]

Blood Feud sounds good. Can I say I hate the cover art. The girls' hips are narrower than her shoulders - the proportions are just wrong. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but honestly I wouldn't buy the book for only that reason.

 

imo that sort of book is just asking to be judged by its cover. I wouldn't want to read it as she looks like Geri from the Spice Girls and therefore I have already decided no matter what the book is about its all going to be about her, very self indulgent.

[Kell]

 

Title: Blood Feud The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Book 1)

Author: Steven A. Roman

ISBN: 978-0984174102

Publisher: Starwarp Concepts

First Published: June 2011

No. of pages:320

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Synopsis (Amazon):

Sixteen-year-old Goth girl Pandora Zwieback has a major problem: she’s just discovered that her New York City hometown is the stalking ground for every monster and ghoul out to raise a little hell (literally!) . . . BUT she’s apparently the only one who can see them. That means she can’t tell her friends or family about the dangers around them–not unless she wants to spend the rest of her life locked up in a psychiatric ward. But before Pan has a chance to make sense of her increasingly weird life, she finds herself in the middle of a war among rival vampire clans. Elegant Gothic Lolitas from Japan on one side, silk-suited London vamps on the other, leather-clad hunters from Eastern Europe in the middle, and all after the same prize: a mysterious crate recently delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. What is the terrifying secret of Item #179? How do its contents tie into an incident from the blood-drenched past of Pan’s new friend, a 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter named Annie? And, more important, will Pan survive long enough to get any answers?

 

Review:

Attention all monster maniacs, vampire victims, Goths, fans of the macabre and all-out urban fantasy, paranormal and supernatural snapper-uppers – there’s a new series on the market and you’re gonna love it!

 

Pandora Zwieback is such a regular kinda gal (well, apart from her “monster vision”, that is) that you can’t help liking her. As teens go, she’s one of the good ones and although she can pack a punch and is a little troubled, she’s not the kind of kid you want to slap every five seconds and that can make all the difference when you’re reading a novel where she’s the star of the show, so to speak. She’s grounded enough that one can readily accept the concept of her having what she calls “monster vision” as she’s so sceptical of it herself.

 

It’s written in such a way that the excitement kept me riding high the length of the novel, and it wasn’t till the end that I realised there was no sex (and, in fact, no romantic scenes at all), which makes a nice change from all the soft-focus, mushy, vampires-just-want-to-be-loved stuff that’s flooded the market after the unaccountable popular Twilight saga. There is also surprisingly little violence, considering we’re battling legions of the undead here, and minimal gore, which means it’s safe for readers from the mid-teen range upwards.

 

Actually, it’s one of those fabulous books that manages to straddle the young adult / adult fiction divide without doing the splits and ending in a prat-fall that would ruin many others, catering equally for teens and more, ahem, “mature” readers alike with a light touch that makes it a joy to read.

 

To top it all off, it’s left wide open for the sequel and then doesn’t give any teaser chapters at the end, which is great because, and here’s where it triumphs, it doesn’t need them! Yes – I already know I want to continue reading The Saga of Pandora Zwieback and I didn’t have that horrid let-down when I realise that, far from having several chapters left, the story has been cut short to make way for an introduction to sucker you into the sequel. Thank you Mr. Roman!

 

I know the cover art might put some people off buying it (I’ve heard several comments along those lines, but personally, I love the cover!). Please don’t let that prejudice you against it. I promise you that if you ignore the art at the beginning, you’ll be so engrossed in the pages between the covers that you’ll forget you ever disliked the picture in the first place.

 

I, for one, can hardly wait for the next installment to be published!